Coin-controlled kaleidoscope.



PATENTED DEC. 22, 1903.

W. H. DALTON.

COIN CONTROLLED KALBIDOSOOPE.

APPLIGATIOI FILED JUNE 9, 1902.

2 SHEETS-511113111.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTED DEC. 22, 1903.

W. H. DALTON.

COIN CONTROLLED KALEIDOSOOPB APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. NO MODEL.

vmmmmmhn llllllilllll 'u'imml UNITED STATES Patented December 22, 1903.

WILLIAM H. DALTON, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

COIN-CONTROLLED KALEIDOSCOPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,383, dated December22, 1903.

Application filed June 9, 1902. Serial No. 110,705. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. DALTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lynn, cou nty of Essex, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in Coin-Controlled Kaleidoscopes,of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification, like numerals on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to coin controlled mechanism, and especially to acoin controlled kaleidoscope.

The kaleidoscope feature of the device comprises a rotatableobject-chamber in whichv the differently colored and shaped objectscommonly used in kaleidoscopes are placed and the usual mirrors arrangedto reflect the objects in the object-chamber, and thereby formdifferently-shaped designs as the object-chamber is revolved.

My invention relates to the coin-controlled apparatus as used inconnection with a kaleidoscope whereby when a penny is deposited in theslot the rotating mechanism for the object-chamber is unlocked and ashutter or screen is removed from the observation-opening, the partsremaining in such operative position until the object-chamber has beenrotated to a predetermined extent, when the device becomes automaticallylocked and the screen replaced in front of the observationopening.

The particular features of my invention will be more fully hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top plan view of my apparatus with thecover of the casing removed to better show the operative parts. Fig. 2is a section on the line 000:, Fig. 1, looking toward the top of thesheet. Fig. 3 is a section on the line yy, Fig. 1, looking toward theright. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are details hereinafter described.

The operative parts of the device are inclosed within a suitable casin g3,which is preferably supported upon any suitable or usual standard 4,rising from a base 4, so as to be capable of turning thereon. Anysuitable means may be employed for thus securing the casing to thepedestal or standard, and for convenience I have herein' shown a screw5, passing through the bottom of the casing and into the top of thepedestal.

The casing 3 has at one end an opening 6, in register with which ismounted a circular object-chamber 7, having glass sides, the saidobject-chamber containing the objects of different colors or shades, asusual in kaleidoscopes. The opposite end of the casing is provided withan observation-opening 8, (shown in dotted lines, Figs. 1 and 2,)through which the person using the device looks, and between theobservation-opening and the object-chamber and extending parallel to theline of vision are the usual mirrors 10, which by their reflection makethe varying designs as the object-chamber is rotated and the objectstherein moved. The mirrors may be supported in any suitable way, and 1have herein illustrated a supporting member 11, which is shown astubular and on the interior of which the mirrors are secured, the saidsupporting member being secured to a suitable spider or framework 12,which in turn is carried by the casing. It will now be observed thatshould a person look through the observation-opening and should the0bject-chamber be revolved at the same time the mirrors will produce thedesired varying design. The purpose in pivotally mounting the casing 3on the standard 4 is to permit the casing to be turned in any desireddirection to direct the object-chamber toward the light.

While it is entirely within the scope of my invention to support theobject-chamber in any suitable way, I have chosen herein to provide asuitable supporting-plate 13, which is secured to the end of the casing3 and which has an aperture therein in which the object-chamber isreceived, the said objectchamber preferably being provided with thedriving-flange 14 and being held in place in the aperture in the plate13 by suitable buttons or clamps 15, which are secured to the plate 13and overlie the said flange.

Journaled in the side of the casing is a driving-shaft 16, which may bedriven in any suitable wayand which has at one end the frictiondriving-roll 17 bearing against the driving-flange 14. I will preferablyeither make the surface of the flange or the surface of thedriving-roll, or both, of some suitable frictional material, such asrubber, to prevent any slipping between the parts. If the device is tobe operated by hand, I will preferably attach a suitable crank 18 to theextended end of the shaft 16.

I have herein provided a shutter or screen which normally obscures theobservationopening 8, but which may be thrown into abnormal or openposition by the insertion of a coin or other toll and which when throwninto its abnormal position will remain thus while the object-chamber isrevolved through a definite distance.

19 designates a tripping lever which is pivoted to any suitable fixedsupport 20 and which carries at one end a shutter or screen 21. Wherethe lever is pivoted to the side of the .casing, as herein shown, theend of the lever will be bent, as at 22, and to such bent end the screenor shutter 21 will be secured, said screen in its normal positionstanding in front of and obscuring the opening 8, as seen in Fig. 2. Thelever is counterbalanced by means of a weight 23, the said weight beingjust sufficient to hold the lever in the position shown in Fig. 2, butallowing said lever to be turned about its fulcrum by the addition of avery small weight to the shutter end thereon.

The shaft 16 carries a suitable worm 25, which meshes with a worm-gear26, fast upon a vertical shaft 27, which shaft is supported at its lowerend in a suitable bearing in a bracket 28. The upper end of the shaft isreceived by a slot in an upper bearing member 29, and a suitable spring30, fixed at one end to the casing and having an eye at its other endwhich encircles the said shaft, serves to yieldingly hold the said shaftin operative position, with its worm-gear in engagement with the worm.Suitable collars 32 upon the shaft serve to hold the same againstlongitudinal movement. A controlling device 31, which is loosely mountedupon the shaft, rests upon the upper face of the worm-gear 26 and servesto control the length of time that the shutter is held away from theobservation-opening. The said member 31 is herein shown as having africtional base-piece 35, which rests upon the wormgear 26 and theannular flange 36. The flange 36 is of the shape shown in Fig. 4., itbeing cut to present the inclined cam portion 37, the locking-shoulder38, and the vertical shoulder 60.

When the lever 19 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the end 24:thereof is in engagement with the locking-shoulder 38, and, as stated,it is held in such a position by reason of the fact that the said end ofthe lever is slightly overweighted. Thelever 19 will either be of someelastic material, so as to be capable of yielding laterally, or it willbe loosely pivoted on the support 20, so as to have a slight lateralmovement. When the controller or controlling member is in its normalposition or that position in which it is left at the finish of thepreceding operation, the shoulder 38 will be forced against the end 2%of the lever 19 with sufficient pressure to deflect the latter laterallyslightly, as seen in full lines, Fig. 5. The shorter end of the lever isprovided with a suitable coin-receiving platform 40, which is sopositioned as to receive a coin or other toll which may be depositedthrough the coinslot 41, which is formed in the side of the easing. Themember 19 is so delicately balanced that the weight of the coin or othertoll as it is received upon the platform 40 from the coin-chute willdepress the said end of the lever and raise the end 2% thereof above.the locking-shoulder 38, at which time the clasticity of the lever willcause the end 2& thereof to spring laterallyinto the dotted-lineposition, Fig. 5, and over the flattened portion 38. As the coin or tollrolls off from the platform, the counterweight 23 depresses the end-24Eand brings the same against the flattened bearing-surface 38, thusunlocking the cont-roller. The platform at) is so constructed that thecoin does not remain on it, but after being dropped on it willimmediately roll off. To unlock the device, it is only necessary thatthe lever be swung into the dotted-line position, Fig. 2, so as to carrythe end 24: of the lever above the locking-shoulder 38. It is notnecessary that the coin should remain on the platform to hold the leverin this position, because the elasticity of the lever brings it into thedotted-line position, Fig. 5, and over the bearing-surface 38. It nowthe driving-shaft lo be operated,the object-chainher will be rotated, asabove described, and the worm-gear 26 will also be operated through theworm 25. The friction between the base 35 of the controlling member 31and the said worm-gear, which is caused by the action of the spring 43,causes the controlling member to rotate with the shaft and carries theinclined portion 37 underneath the end of the lever, thus swinging thelever from the fullline position, Fig. 2, to the dotted-line positionand fully uncovering the observationopening. The observer may now obtaina full and complete view of the varying designs produced by the rotationof the objectchamber, and such view will continue'unobstructed until thecontroller has made one complete revolution, when the end 24- of thelocking-lever will drop over the shoulder 60 and again engage thelocking-shoulder 38, thus bringing the lever to the full-line position,Fig. 2, and obscuring the observation-opening and also looking thecontroller. If now the operator continues to turn the driving-shaft, theobject-chamber will be rotated, yet, since the end of the locking-leverengages the locking-shoulder 38, the controller is prevented fromrotation, and the observation-opening remains obscured and will remainobscured until the locking-lever has again been released bythe insertionof another toll. This continued operation of the driving-shaft and theconsequent rotation of the shaft 27 after the controller is locked ispermitted by the slipping of the frictional driving-engagement betweenthe controller and the worm-gear 26. The friction between the controllerand the gear 26 is, as stated above, sufficient to drive the controllerwhen the same has been unlocked, and when one complete rotation thereofhas occurred and it is again looked as above described such friction issufficient to cause the lever 19 to flex and assume the full-lineposition, Fig. 5. The lever is thus put into its normal position, andthe machine is ready for another operation by the insertion of anothercoin. It will thus be observed that the driving member for theobject-chamber is not of itself locked, but a person is prevented fromobtaining any benefit from the rotation of the chamber without theinsertion of a coin by providing means whereby the observation-openingis obscured until the coin has been inserted. I have thus accomplishedthe objects designed by any coin-controlled apparatus without employinga rigid locking connection for the driving parts. This I consider quitean advantage, because where a rigid locking means is employed a personsometimes by wrenching or putting undue strain upon the operating partswill succeed in breaking or otherwise injuring the device. On the otherhand, with my improved structure the free operation of the drivingshaftis permitted at all times, but the view is obscured until a suitablecoin has been inserted to release a frictional locking device. Asuitable pawl 50, engaging a ratchet 51, fast to the drivingshaft,prevent-s backward rotation of the shaft.

The drivingshaft 16 will preferably be mounted for movement toward andfrom the driving-disk 14: by supporting the'said shaft in a slottedbearing 58. The spring 30 performs a double function: First, it servesto hold the Worm gear 26 in engagement with the worm 25, and, second, itoperates to draw the shaft 16 toward the flange 14, and thus maintain africtional engagement between the driving-roll 17 and said flange. Iwill preferably support a suitable bearing-roll 52 in the casing,against which the outside of the flange 14 engages.

While I have herein chosen to illustrate my invention .as applied to akaleidoscope in which the object-chamber rotates relative to themirrors, yet it should be obvious that it is within the scope of myinvention to apply the device herein illustrated to a kaleidoscopewherein the mirrors revolve instead of the object-chamber, and I willconsider such a construction as coming within my invention. I would alsostate that while I have herein shown my improved coin -controlledapparatus as used in connection with a kaleidoscope, yet I do not wishto limit it to such use, as it will be obvious that the coin-controlledfeatures herein described could be used in connection with otherapparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In adevice of the class described, a casing having anobservation-opening, a device to be operated inside of the casing, acoincontrolled pivoted lever, a shutter operated by the movement of saidlever, a cam-like controller having a shoulder to be engaged by thelever, and means whereby the movement of the device to be operated tendsto move the controller and thus flexes the lever, the construction beingsuch that when the lever is rocked by means of a coin it is disengagedfrom the shoulder and moved laterally out of line therewith.

2. In acoin-controlled apparatus, a casing having anobservation-opening, a plurality of movable objects visible through saidopening, means to give the objects their movement, a pivotedlocking-lever carrying a shutter which normally obscures the opening, acontroller having a locking-shoulder engaged by said lever, and ayielding driving connection for said controller which tends to crowd thelocking-shoulder against the lever with sufficient force to flex thelatter whereby when said lever is lifted out of engagement with thelocking-shoulder by the action of a coin, the elasticity of said levercauses it to be carried out of the plane of said shoulder.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a device to be operated, acontroller therefor having a locking-shoulder, a locking-levernorinallyengaging said shoulder, and means tending normally to maintain saidshoulder against the lever with sufficient force to flex the latter,whereby when said lever is lifted out of engagement with the shoulder bythe operation of a coin, the elasticity of the lever causes it to movelaterally with reference to the shoulder.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. DALTON.

Witnesses:

Gno. W. GREGORY, MARGARET A. DUNN.

IIO

